1Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

THE GLOBAL EDITORS NETWORK

ACCELERATE YOUR NEWSROOM

2017

www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

STARTUPS FORNEWS

2Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Organised by the Global Editors Network, Startups for News (SFN) is an international competition that recognises early-stage startups that are bringing innovative solutions to newsroom challenges. It does so by accelerating their development through carefully planned exposure and engagement via our platforms & partners.

With this programme, we connect early stage, high-potential ventures with our network of 12,000 editors-in-chief and senior media executives in 136 countries.

It’s a win-win scenario: worthy startups can present their products to an audience of industry leaders, entrepreneurial efforts are promoted in developing areas that can benefit from them, and our community of editors and media professionals discover new products for their newsrooms.

What is Startups for News?

How does it work?

News and media startups from all over the world send their applications for Startups for News.

1 Oct 2016 – 1 Jan 2017

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1 Jan 2017 – 20 Jan 2017

The jury will rank all submissions. The top 30 will be featured in an in-depth industry report. The top 16 will make it to the pitch battles.

JURY SELECTION

28 Jan 2017 – 20 April 2017

16 startups will face off in online pitch battles. Every week, video presentations of two startups working on a similar theme will be posted on the GEN website. A combined vote from the public and the jury will determine 8 finalists.

ONLINE PITCH BATTLES

21–23 June 2017

The 8 finalists will pitch on the main stage before a final vote from the jury. In addition to the report launch, the Summit will feature side events and parties to celebrate the end of the programme.

GEN SUMMIT IN VIENNA

3Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Startups for News culminates at the GEN Summit 2017

Since 2011, the GEN Summit has steadily grown to be the most anticipated event of the year for editors, journalists and media professionals worldwide. Every year, GEN gathers a diverse group of influencers and opinion leaders to discuss the latest industry-shaping trends.

In 2016 in Vienna, the GEN Summit attracted 750 participants from 70 countries. At the event, 90 speakers provided insight, shed light on recent trends and innovations and discussed the future of journalism. The GEN Summit 2017 will also take place in Vienna, Austria and its theme will revolve around virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Who came in 2016?

Startups for News Final: During the GEN Summit 2017 in Vienna, the 8 finalists will pitch on stage in front of our audience of editors-in-chief, senior media executives and tech experts. At various times throughout the Summit’s agenda, startups will pitch directly to our audience, who will be able to ask questions and give feedback.

Startups for News Playroom: A dedicated space will be provided to showcase all the 8 finalists with their products and/or services. Our audience will get to experience, first-hand, the latest in news and media innovation.

Startups for News Ceremony: Talk about suspense. We will briefly present all startups, give a few speeches, and announce the winner. The ceremony will mark the end of the GEN Summit 2017. We will demonstrate the progress of the programme and its benefit to the industry as a whole.

Startups for News Party: A party is always a good idea. Over drinks and food, everybody at the GEN Summit 2017, including the 8 finalists and the winner, will be invited to relax and network in a friendly setting.

Vienna 21–23 June 2017

4Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Startups for News Value

For editors

For startups

For sponsors

Editors can discover a careful selection of startups with innovative product portfolios and accessing startups that will boost newsroom performance and provide competitive advantage. They will also receive perspective on media innovation from the most cutting -edge entrepreneurs.

Through this programme, each and every selected startup will have the chance to get recognized by industry leaders and noticed by potential sponsors. And in the GEN Summit, all participating startups not only benefit from the strong network potential of this annual gathering, but also gain media exposure from our media partners.

Sponsors will position their brand as supporters for startups and entrepreneurship in an increasingly challenging news ecosystem. They will boost their reputation as key players in media and journalism innovation, and will be the first to know what tools are generating attention in our unique network.

5Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Startups Profile & Highlights

In the past, Startups for News has featured 44 high-caliber media ventures whose products are as valuable to newsrooms as they are original and innovative. We chose those young companies because they have demonstrated high metabolism and resilience. They identified an unexploited opportunity in their industry and offered something our network of editors and media professionals found worthy.

By embedding wearable broadcast equipment imperceptibly into a player’s clothing, FirstV1sion brings the viewer a real-time, point-of-view angle. The Spanish startup participated in the 2014 Startups for News season and was able to catch the attention of Andres Iniesta, one of top football players in the world, who invested in the company. FirstV1sion’s product is already approved by the Euroleague Basketball.

SAM is a social media workflow tool designed for journalists and newsrooms. They power social media search to identify quality content on social networks. Founded in 2013, SAM participated in the 2015 season of Startups for News and their software is already being used by the Financial Times, the Toronto Star and BBC. SAM announced in April that the Associated Press joined their list of funders.

Connecting newsrooms to NGO workers in dangerous conflict zones is a challenge that Sourcerise is overcoming. The startup makes it easier – and safer – for journalists to reach conflict zones, and for NGOs to relay information back. Sourcerise won the 2015 season of Startups for News.

Spot.IM is an on-site community that provides publishers with “social network” elements for their online portals. With Spot.IM, publishers can build an active and engaged community and can have a direct conversation with their audience. Spot.IM participated in the 2015 season of Startups for News. They just received $13 million in a funding round. They are currently working with 4,600 active sites including News Corp, Time Inc., and Advertising Age.

Transcribing an interview is a time-consuming, tedious job for a journalist. Trint has designed software that automatically transcribes recordings, and at the same time has the ability to spot mistakes and make the corrections. Trint won a grant from the Google Digital News Initiative and has received investment from the Knight Foundation’s Enterprise Fund.

Wibbitz is a text-to-video creation platform built for publishers. Its advanced text-to-video technology can automatically produce premium branded videos using text content in seconds. The company has so far raised over $10 million, and is currently partnering with Reuters and AOL.

Where were our startups featured?

6Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Why should you apply?

The application period started on 1 October 2016 and will continue until 1 January 2017.

For the 16 participants in the pitch battles:

» Exposure to our powerful network of media innovators through GEN’s social media channels and our newsletter.

For the 8 finalists (in addition to the above):

» Two invitations per startup to the GEN Summit 2017 in Vienna, valued at €3,560 » The chance to pitch in front of 750 editors-in-chief and media professionals from over 70 countries

For the winner (in addition to the above):

» Private mentorship sessions from GEN’s board members » One booth at the GEN EXPO at the GEN Summit in 2018

Exposure to the industry

Get recognised by industry leaders and noticed by potential partners and investors. During your pitch you will have the full attention of more than 750 editors-in-chief and media professionals.

Network, network, network

Network with senior media executives in a friendly atmosphere and benefit from their feedback, insights, and connections. Take advantage of the tips provided by the international jury.

Gain media exposure

We partner with leading media and news organisations on battle promotion and Summit coverage. This takes places on social media, newsletters, and websites via dedicated visuals and text.

What are the conditions to applying?

When can you apply?

What can you win?

What entrepreneurs are saying about Startups for News?

The startup must offer an innovative product or service to newsrooms

The startup must have been founded no earlier than 2013

The startup must have received less than €1 million in external funding

“ “Get recognised by industry leaders and noticed by potential partners and investors. During your pitch you will have the full attention of more than 750 editors-in-chief and media professionals.

Jeffrey Kofman, CEO and co-founder of Trint

Over the past couple of years I have been to a number of journalism conferences and none of them have a similar program to recognize or promote the startup ecosystem in the news industry as GEN Summit

Bill Hankes, Founder & CEO of Sqoop

7Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Our Reach

1 The GEN Community

3,712 members

138 countries

1,567 projects

The GEN Community comprises editors, journalists, developers, graphic designers and programme managers from countries around the world.

GEN members and projects global distribution map

2 GEN Summit: 750+ Participants

Geographical Distribution

(View complete data visualization about attendance)

Profiles

60% Northern Europe14% Eastern Europe13% Americas6% Asia3% Southern Europe2% Africa2% MENA

750+

Platforms

7% Other

15% Broadcast

18% Non profit & edu

25% Print

35% Digital

38% Editors-in-Chief12% Deputy editors12% Online editors11% Journalists10% Other5% Startups5% Journalism professors4% Publishers3% Consultants & lawyers

3 4Social Media Official Newsletter

Followers: 10,355 Impressions (avg.): 285,341Engagement rate (avg.): 0.86%

11,838 Subscribers20.1% open rate (industry standard: 17.3%)

Followers: 4,495

Monthly visits: 5,000

Website visits: 49,619 monthly visitors

Distribution map

8Startups for News | www.globaleditorsnetwork.org

Some of our partners

GEN Summit 201721–23 June, Vienna

Read More

We are a cross-platform community of editors-in-chief and media innovators committed to sustainable, high-quality journalism, empowering newsrooms through a variety of programs designed to inspire, connect and share. GEN is driven by a journalistic imperative and a common goal: Content and Engagement First. To that end, we support all kinds of organizations and media outlets in defining a vision for the future of journalism.

In 2016 in Vienna, the GEN Summit attracted 750 participants from 70 countries. At the event, 90 speakers provided insight, shed light on recent trends and innovations and discussed the future of journalism. The GEN Summit 2017 will also take place in Vienna, Austria and its theme will revolve around virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

About the Global Editors NetworkAbout the GEN SummitGEN Summit Impact Report

750Delegates at

the annual GEN Summit

GEN online community members

3,700Digital visitors

to GEN Summit website

5,000+

Benefactors in our network

30,000Recipients of weekly

newsletter

12,000

About the Global Editors Network